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ST. LOUIS NEWS TODAY - Sunday, April 22, 2007
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Tobacco Payments for Missouri Top $1.2 Billion
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), April 22, 2007 - Payments to the state of Missouri from the 1998 agreement between Attorney General Jay Nixon and the major tobacco companies have surpassed the $1.2 billion mark, announced Nixon.
The state received a total of $136,995,817 in two payments this week; added to the $1,101,267,653 previously paid, it brings the total Nixon has brought in from the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) for Missouri taxpayers to $1,238,263,470.
"This historic agreement was the result of our lawsuit to hold Big Tobacco accountable for decades of misrepresentation and deceit, particularly as those efforts were aimed at getting young people hooked on cigarettes," Nixon said. "I'm proud that our efforts have obtained well over a billion dollars so far for Missouri, with those payments extending into perpetuity.
"I continue to urge our legislators to follow the example of other states and dedicate meaningful portions of these payments to help anti-smoking efforts, especially those aimed at youth," Nixon said. "Missouri has lagged behind too far on this issue, and we're paying the price for it with higher smoking rates."
According to a report from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Missouri has an adult smoking rate of 23.4 percent - the eleventh highest adult smoking rate among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, higher than the national average of 20.9 percent, and higher than the neighboring states of Illinois, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. The December 2006 report cites Missouri as one of only five states that have allocated no significant state funds for tobacco prevention.
The annual payments to Missouri and the other 45 states that participated in the MSA are based on consumption of tobacco, inflation and other factors. The payments will continue into perpetuity.
Governor Names Campus Security Task Force
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), April 22, 2007 - On Friday, Gov. Matt Blunt met with students, safety officials and campus leaders at Harris-Stowe State University to discuss the state's ongoing efforts to protect campus security.
Blunt tapped Harris-Stowe President, Dr. Henry Givens and others to serve on the Campus Security Task Force, which he formed to evaluate Missouri's campus emergency response plans and ensure close communications between higher education and public safety communities.
"We are working to identify and implement best practices to protect our students, faculty and staff in a time of emergency," Blunt said. "We all mourn the horrendous tragedy in Virginia and, now, are even more focused on continued efforts to make every school campus in Missouri a safe learning environment."
Blunt asked Mark James, Director of Public Safety and Dr. Robert Stein, Commissioner of Higher Education to lead the new Campus Security Task Force. The group will provide a comprehensive report focused on initiatives to improve safety standards and heighten security within buildings and facilities on campuses.
The governor has asked his Campus Security Task Force to produce a report before the fall semester.
Additionally, the governor's Homeland Security Advisory Council has focused federal dollars to purchase an Internet-based tool called the Emergency Response Information Program (ERIP). The program helps schools, campuses and licensed day care facilities plan for an emergency. The council also set up a school safety working group and has reached out to educators across our state to identify best practices to protect students, faculty and staff in a crisis.
The governor also committed more than $10 million in federal funds to ensure compatible communication among law enforcement officials and first responders when a disaster strikes. In the event of tragedy, the ability to save lives is greatly enhanced when emergency workers responding to a crisis can easily share information and coordinate response.
Blunt has also worked to assure students are safe at Missouri's K-12 schools. Last October Blunt participated in a forum for state leaders, school districts and law enforcement to discuss school safety issues and goals to protect schools and students. He added an education representative to the state's homeland security team and called on educators to get involved in school safety planning.
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